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Topic: We have an opportunity (Read 2450 times)

We have a friend who has a gigantic barn that has bees within the walls. I think I am going to take a stab at removing the bees next spring. This has already been done once before but they returned. I need all the pointers I can get on doing this within the next thee months.

We have a friend who has a gigantic barn that has bees within the walls. I think I am going to take a stab at removing the bees next spring. This has already been done once before but they returned.I need all the pointers I can get on doing this within the next thee months.

I doubt "they" returned unless the original colony absconded from wherever the beek who did the original cut out took them, which is highly unlikely. What occurs in cut outs and empty hives for that matter is that a site/cavity once occupied by an active colony is impregnated with pheromones that will attract future swarms. I have seen homes get repeated colonization by swarms year after year in the same cavity until the homeowner eventually seals the cavity for good. This is why I always strongly recommend a total structural seal to deny access to cavities and wall voids. I do this because almost as common is the colony removed and that specific cavity sealed just to have a new swarm the next year a few feet down from the first entering a gap not sealed the first go around. Even more fun are the multiple colony jobs. I once took four seperate colonies out of one.Not meaning to be to literal but I try to be very specific with the biology when dealing with customers as it is hard enough doing what I do without having to deal with wives tales and other assorted misinformation. Over half of my job is educating the public.Without it this barn owner may come to the erroneous conclusion that bees somehow infest a structure like ants or termites. Besides the more you wow them with your knowledge the easier your task will be.

When I used the term "they returned" I meant that bees came back into the walls not that "they" were the same bees.

Why on earth would I want to eradicate a natural swarm trap? I know the owner and he is not afraid of the bees. He knows we are raising bees and has given us the opportunity to expand our hobby. We do have concerns that this barn is amongst a bean patch. Which means the bees are likely living off from GMO beans and pesticides. As much as we hate that the good thing is once the queen is mated she doesn't mate again so our somewhat clean hive should not get contaminated by another hive.

When I used the term "they returned" I meant that bees came back into the walls not that "they" were the same bees.

Why on earth would I want to eradicate a natural swarm trap? I know the owner and he is not afraid of the bees. He knows we are raising bees and has given us the opportunity to expand our hobby. We do have concerns that this barn is amongst a bean patch. Which means the bees are likely living off from GMO beans and pesticides. As much as we hate that the good thing is once the queen is mated she doesn't mate again so our somewhat clean hive should not get contaminated by another hive.

I'm sure you know that Drones intermingle with various hives, and are accepted by them.

This kinda blows your last sentence.

Bee-Bop

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" If Your not part of the genetic solution of breeding mite-free bees, then You're part of the problem "

When I used the term "they returned" I meant that bees came back into the walls not that "they" were the same bees.

Why on earth would I want to eradicate a natural swarm trap? I know the owner and he is not afraid of the bees. He knows we are raising bees and has given us the opportunity to expand our hobby. We do have concerns that this barn is amongst a bean patch. Which means the bees are likely living off from GMO beans and pesticides. As much as we hate that the good thing is once the queen is mated she doesn't mate again so our somewhat clean hive should not get contaminated by another hive.

Well, that's cool if the owner is fine with repeat cut outs. Just be sure that is the case. A natural swarm trap is a fine thing to have. Most of mine though want them gone now and would not even consider a repeat performance as acceptable. But then again I do mostly residential work.I would still give the barn a once over and if I found areas where future cut outs would do damage, ie voids that would have to be cut open or things disassembled I would let him know but that's just me. It all boils down to what the customers wants and can live with.Just so you know my field of expertise is permanently resolving wildlife conflict and for most intrusions by wildlife into structures or habitations usually requires permanently sealing them out of structures. Honey bees are but one of over a hundred different species I deal with.

Now here's an idea I plan to experiment with and you mught be able to as well. I'm going to gather materials from the next few cut outs and see if I can use it as a lure in swarm traps here at the house. I've got a piece of 3/8" plywood out in the shed that came off of a cut out in a soffit and it is the right size for a nuc top. I'm going to try it this spring and see what the results are.

Definitely check out the videos available in the honeybee removal section. JP, Hardwood, and others post a bunch of them. Watch a bunch of them. You will learn a lot. Watch how the beeks move, what they are doing with their hands, rubber bands on the frames, how they cut into walls, etc. It sounds like you have a co-operative owner, so you will probably be able to leave a hive set up there for a day or two to collect stragglers. Good luck!

JC

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"Rise again, rise again - though your heart it be broken, or life about to end. No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend, like the Mary Ellen Carter rise again!"

Bee removal is hidden in one of the child forums on the hoe page...third one down if I recall.

Scott

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"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."